Buddhism

Table of Contents

Introduction
The foundations of Buddhism
- The cultural context
- The life of the Buddha
- The Buddha’s message
  - Suffering, impermanence, and no-self
  - Karma
  - The Four Noble Truths
  - The law of dependent origination
  - The Eightfold Path
  - Nirvana
Historical development
- India
  - Expansion of Buddhism
  - Buddhism under the Guptas and Palas
  - The demise of Buddhism in India
  - Contemporary revival
- Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
  - Sri Lanka
  - Southeast Asia
    - Malaysia and Indonesia
    - From Myanmar to the Mekong delta
    - Vietnam
- Central Asia and China
  - Central Asia
  - China
    - The early centuries
    - Developments during the Tang dynasty (618–907)
    - Buddhism after the Tang
- Korea and Japan
  - Korea
  - Japan
    - Origins and introduction
    - Nara and Heian periods
    - New schools of the Kamakura period
    - The premodern period to the present
- Tibet, Mongolia, and the Himalayan kingdoms
  - Tibet
  - Mongolia
  - The Himalayan kingdoms
- Buddhism in the West
- Sangha, society, and state
  - Monastic institutions
  - Sanghas
  - Internal organization of the sangha
  - Society and state
The major systems and their literature
- Theravada
  - Beliefs, doctrines, and practices
    - Cosmology
    - Classification of dhammas
    - Meditation
    - The stages leading to arhatship
    - The Buddha
  - The Pali canon (Tipitaka)
  - Early noncanonical texts in Pali
  - Later Theravada literature
- Mahayana
  - Basic teachings
    - The Buddha: divinization and multiplicity
    - The bodhisattva ideal
    - The three Buddha bodies
    - New revelations
  - The Mahayana schools and their texts
    - Madhyamika (Sanlun/Sanron)
    - Yogachara/Vijnanavada (Faxiang/Hossō)
    - Avatamsaka (Huayan/Kegon)
    - Tiantai/Tendai
    - Pure Land
    - Nichiren
    - Dhyana (Chan/Zen)
- Vajrayana (Tantric or Esoteric) Buddhism
  - Vajrayana Buddhism in India
    - Origins
    - Vajrayana literature
  - Vajrayana Schools in Tibet
    - Rnying-ma-pa
    - Sa-skya-pa, Bka’-brgyud-pa, and related schools
    - The Bka’-gdams-pa and Dge-lugs-pa
  - Vajrayana traditions in China and Japan
    - Zhenyan
    - Shingon
Mythology
- Shakyamuni in literature and art
  - Traditional literary accounts
  - Shakyamuni in art and archaeology
- Celestial buddhas and bodhisattvas
  - Literary references
  - Art and archaeology
- Recurrent mythic themes
  - Mythic figures in the Three Worlds cosmology
  - Local gods and demons
  - Female deities
  - Kings and yogis
Popular religious practices
- Calendric rites and pilgrimage
  - Uposatha
  - Anniversaries
  - Vassa
  - Ullambana festival
  - New Year and harvest festivals
  - Buddhist pilgrimage
- Rites of passage and protective rites
  - Initiation
    - Ordination
    - Bodhisattva vows
    - Abhisheka
  - Funeral rites
  - Protective rites
Buddhism in the contemporary world
- Trends since the 19th century
- Challenges and opportunities

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

dream of Maya presaging the Buddha's birth

For Students

Buddhism summary

Read Next

What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?

The 14th Dalai Lama: A Life in Pictures

The Chinese philosopher Confucius (Koshi) in conversation with a little boy in front of him. Artist: Yashima Gakutei. 1829

The Axial Age: 5 Fast Facts

Discover

What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?

Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada, 2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics

10 Best Hockey Players of All Time

Nativity Scene, Adoration of the Magi, Church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, Montenegro

Why Is Christmas in December?

9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes

A mug shot taken by the regional Colombia control agency in Medellin

Pablo Escobar: 8 Interesting Facts About the King of Cocaine

Orange basketball on black background and with low key lighting. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time

Watergate scandal. Richard M. Nixon. President Nixon gives a press conference and talks to the press, March 12, 1971.

9 American Political Scandals

The main text of the Pure Land schools is the Sukhavativyuha-sutra (“Pure Land Sutra”). Written in northwestern India probably before the beginning of the 2nd century ce, the Sukhavativyuha exists in two original versions, a longer one that emphasizes good works and a shorter version that emphasizes faith and devotion alone. This sutra tells of a monk, Dharmakara, who heard the preaching of Lokeshvararaja Buddha aeons ago and asked to become a buddha. After millions of years of study, Dharmakara vowed, among other things, to establish a Pure or Happy Land (Sanskrit: Sukhavati; Chinese: Jingtu; Japanese: Jōdo), also known as ...(100 of 40253 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.